**VOCAL FOR LOCAL**

Shopping with small retailers, buying handmade products and dealing with local businesses, has become a new trend in the world of shopping. This new outlook does provide better opportunities to small businesses. Parallely, the customer also enjoys the experience of local shopping.

Here are few important points that stir us to buy handmade products from, local shops:

 

·       Small businesses and handmade businesses give (more) back to the local community: Small business ensures that the revenue stays within the country. They provide employment to the locals. Handmade supports local craft artists.

 

·       Shopping local encourages the manufacturing within the Country: As the global economy has encouraged entrepreneurship across many countries, the local businesses also need more inspiration. Shopping local gives these businesses assurance to face the competition.

 

·       Handmade Products are more Eco-friendly: Handmade products require less energy and carbon emission. Most of them are recyclable,hence creating an eco-friendly industry.

 

·       Small Businesses provide best customer Experience: These industries provide personalized and memorable shopping experience, which the customers do not getduring online shopping.

 

·       Small and local businesses create bonds: The connect between the customer, shop and business person; is an emotional bond, which has faded in the corporate trading.

 

Local and handmade products can be connected to the origins of the land. The customer can feel the essence of the culture while shopping. Buying a handmade product gives the shopkeeper his profit and the customer a gift to cherish for long.

12 Common Jewellery mistakes

Something as precious as jewellery can get harmed and lose their value with some mistakes we often do.

Here are 12 mistakes we should do not with jewellery:

1. Unaware of the material used in the jewellery: A customer should be aware of the material used in the jewellery. The jeweller is obliged to provide the information.
2.  Wearing the same jewellery every day: Wearing the same every day makes it dirty in places that are not easily seen. Collection of dirt can lead to infections.
3. Lack of information before making a purchase: Lack of information about the jewellery may lead to paying too much for a simple piece.
4. Not clasping necklaces before storing: Storing necklaces improperly leads to tangling and ultimately breaking of the chains.
5. Not Cleaning the Jewellery: This a mistake that is very common and leads to skin infections.
6. Using harsh cleaning methods: Jewellery should never be cleaned with harsh cleansers, or scrubbers. It can lead to irreversible erosion.
7. Wearing jewellery while swimming: Wearing jewellery while swimming leads to erosion of metal and stones.
8. Buying Jewellery from Cheap Retail Chain Stores: There are stores that sell jewellery at lesser cost because they are not proficient enough in making and maintaining the jewellery.
9. Not choosing the right jewel: The ‘right jewel’ is meant in terms of matching with the body structure, for example a necklace for the neckline.
10. Not choosing the right ring size: This a mistake that can lead to painful finger and hence ring size should be chosen carefully.
11. Not storing the jewellery properly: Jewellery should be stored away from, humidity, free flowing air to avoid erosion and dirt.
12. Having an Unartistic Taste: Jewellery is to enhance beauty and hence the customer should have a good choice, to make the right purchase.

These mistakes if avoided can make the jewellery collection; beautiful, clean and erosion free.

WHICH SHOULD YOU CHOOSE: GOLD OR SILVER JEWELLERY?

Jewellery, Golden or Silver has its unique impact on the personality. Choosing between gold or silver is matter of debate for many.

 

Here are some easy and simple ways to choose to between gold or silver jewellery.

 

Skin Tone: The veins passing through the wrist determine the skin tone. The veins with blue and pink colour indicate cool skin tone. The veins with green and yellow colour indicate warm skin tone.

Gold jewellery goes great with warm skin tone, while silver jewels is best with cool skin tone.

 

Matching with the Makeup: Makeup and jewellery should give the right combination and perfect look.  Warm colour skin tones, usually wear golden jewellery, but with a cool makeup, silver jewellery also gives a great finish. Similarly, cool colour skin can use gold jewellery in combination with warm makeup colours.

 

Matching with the Outfit: Outfits and jewellery should also make a right combination. Mismatch can ruin the persona. Outfit with warm colours go very well with Gold, while dresses with cool colours get along well with silver.

 

Combining the Two: Combining Gold and Silver jewellery can also give a great look. An old norm of not wearing gold and silver jewellery together is not true now.

 

The list of ideas can go on, but the person wearing the jewel takes the ultimate call.  A jewel that gives a big smile and twinkle in your eyes is always the right one.

10 QUICK TIPS TO CLEAN YOUR JEWELLERY

Jewellery is collection of sentiments for every woman. Taking proper care of these valuables enhances their beauty and life.

Here are 10 quick, but easy tips to ensure clean and hygienic jewels

1. Jewellery should be stored either flat or hanging: This tip helps minimum touch and prevents scratching.
2. Annual inspection of jewellery: An annual check-up by a jeweller helps to detect the wear-and-tear of the jewel. 
3. Immediate Repairs: In case of any breakage, jewellery should be repaired immediately. This helps to avoid further loss of metal. 
4. Clean jewellery using a soft toothbrush: Applying warm, mild soapy water and gentle dabbing with toothbrush is a simple tip for cleaning jewellery. 
5. Avoid handing the jewellery frequently: Habits, like twisting the chains, can also lead to breaking of the fragile jewellery. 
6. Avoid exposure to chemicals: Exposing sensitive jewellery like pearls, to chemicals like perfumes or hairsprays can erode the jewellery.
7.  Avoid wearing during swimming: Chlorine in swimming pools or salt water of the sea can also harm the jewellery.  
8. Avoid wearing while cleaning or washing anything: The chemicals like floor cleaners or cleaning sprays can be harmful for the jewellery. 
9. Avoid wearing them while playing a sport or exercising: It is always recommended to remove jewellery while playing or exercising in the gym. 
10. Insurance and current valuations of the jewels: Getting an updated valuation from a registered valuer is a good practice.